*** This column is usually issued on Mondays,but due to Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. Day,we postponed it until today.
***The four NFL Divisional round playoff games over the weekend were mostly a disappointment. Three of the four games were blow outs,with only the Jets upset win over the Chargers the slightest bit interesting,or competitive. Now the Jets will visit the Colts in a rematch,not only of the 15th game of the regular season in which Indianapolis “tanked” the contest to rest players,and thus gave the Jets an easy fourth quarter rally for a win that got Rex Ryan’s team INTO the post season. This is also a rematch if sorts of Super Bowl III when “Broadway” Joe Namath the the Jets stunned the Pro Football world by beating the favored BALTIMORE Colts 16-7 at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
***Two Dome teams will each be trying to end long “Super Bowl droughts”. The New Orleans Saints have NEVER been to a Super Bowl,even though many have been held in the “Big Easy” including the Bears 46-10 rout of New England in SB XX. The Minnesota Vikings have not been to a Super Bowl in 33 years since they lost big to the Raiders. The Vikes also have not been in a SB since moving indoors to the Metrodome in 1982.
***The Bears organization remains in shock over the sudden death of 26 year old defensive end Gaines Adams,whom they picked up from Tampa Bay in October for a second round draft pick. And no, don’t ask, the Bears do not get their second round pick back.
***The Cubs had their annual sellout for the 25th Convention this past weekend at the Chicago Hilton. Fans were excited to be there,but the buzz of the past few years was not evident. Many smart fans know the Cubs are clearly underdogs to win the NL Central.
***It’s the White Sox turn next with Soxfest at the Palmer House this Friday.
***The Blackhawks are off to a 2-0 start on their eight game road trip. The nearby games(in Columbus and Detroit)are behind them. Now are games in Ottawa,Calgary,Vancouver,San Jose and lastly Carolina after a coast to coast flight.
***The Bulls loss at Golden State Monday afternoon was almost as bad as their embarressing defeats at home with pathetic New Jersey,and the game with Sacramento in which they blew a 35 point-second half lead. The Warriors dressed just eight players,and three were from the D-League! Even with Kirk Hinrich out due to the flu, this loss was unacceptable.
LES